MAHONING VALLEY
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Robinson-Shuba statue would celebrate iconic handshake The Economic Action Group, a A downtown development advocate, larger-than-life statue commemorating the inspiring 1946 handshake of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American Major League Baseball player, and George “Shotgun” Shuba, his white teammate from Youngstown, will inspire better relations among people of different racial backgrounds, say leaders of a group planning to build the statue in downtown Youngstown. The Economic Action Group, a downtown development advocate, and the newly formed Robinson-Shuba Commemorative Statue Committee aim to raise $400,000 to complete the statue and dedicate it on April 18, 2021, the 75th anniversary of what some have called “the handshake of the century” following Robinson’s first home run in mainstream professional baseball.” A handshake at home plate by players of different races is no big deal in America today, but in 1946 it was a historic moment,” said Herb Washington, a local businessman, former Major League Baseball player and one of the co-chairs of the committee. “We want to memorialize that moment in a way that inspires people to relate more respectfully to those of other races. We need more Americans to follow the examples of Jackie Robinson and George Shuba.” Another committee member, Patty Brozik, a retired Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley president and banker, said the statue could put Youngstown in the national spotlight. “Jackie Robinson fought through incredible hate and adversity throughout his career yet became one of the greatest baseball players the game has ever known,” she said. “George’s handshake demonstrated respect for Jackie’s achievements and showed the world what things could be like without barriers based on race. We’re confident that many in the Mahoning Valley will want to join us in supporting this effort.” The committee is pursuing grants from local foundations and donations from the public at its website, robinsonshuba.org. The bronze statue would portray the handshake as captured in a landmark news wire photograph now owned by Mike Shuba of Youngstown, George’s son. Both players would stand nearly 7 feet tall in bronze at a site in The Raymond John Wean Foundation Park near the
and the newly formed RobinsonShuba Commemorative Statue Committee aim to raise $400,000 to complete the statue and dedicate it on April 18, 2021, the 75th anniversary of what some have called “the handshake of the century.”
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From left, Ernie Brown, Greg Gulas and Herb Washington are the co-chairs of the committee planning to develop a statue in downtown Youngstown to celebrate the historic 1946 handshake of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American Major League Baseball player, and George ‘Shotgun’ Shuba, his white teammate from Youngstown.
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Connecticut sculptor Marc Mellon recently created a rough early study of the Robinson Shuba statue.
Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre, where they would enjoy high visibility. Robinson enjoyed a Hall of Fame career with Major League Baseball’s Brooklyn Dodgers, but he played previously with the Dodgers’ minor league affiliate, the Montreal Royals, after a stint in the Negro Leagues. Robinson’s first game with the Royals was a major media event in New Jersey against the Jersey City Giants, with a huge crowd in the stands and the city’s schools ordered closed to mark the occasion. In his second at-bat, with two other Royals on base, Robinson hit a home run. Both teammates who scored on the homer went into the dugout without waiting for Robinson to congratulate him. Shuba, who was on deck, noticed that, so he stepped right up to shake Robinson’s hand just as the future Hall of Famer was crossing home plate. The photo captured that moment – the first handshake of black and white players on a professional baseball diamond.” In our book, George is quoted as saying he didn’t think at the time that shaking a black player’s hand was a big deal,” said Greg Gulas, a retired Youngstown State sports information director and another committee co-chair. “He had played with black and white guys at Chaney High School and in sandlot games in Youngstown for years. He shook Jackie’s hand because he had just hit a three-run homer. George was proud to be Jackie’s teammate for the Royals and the Dodgers, not because Jackie was black but because he was an incredible baseball player.” Ernie Brown, a former Vindicator regional editor and another committee cochair, added, “The fact that George stepped up after his teammates ignored Jackie’s achievement suggests that Youngstown was a little ahead of the game when it came to SEE SHUBA, Page 10
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